San Francisco-based McKesson announced it has agreed to purchase Per-Se Technologies, Alpharetta, Ga., in a deal worth $1.8 billion. The purchase is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007 if it meets regulatory approval.

An aspirin a day really does keep heart attack and stroke away for women, yet fewer than half of American women who could benefit from the simple measure do not take a daily pill, according to recent research.

Washington University surgeons at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, began training at UMC in Tucson on Nov. 2 to become one of only nine hospitals in the U.S. certified to implant the CardioWest temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t). Ranked No. 10 on the “U.S. News and World Report’s” Best Heart Hospitals of 2006, the Barnes-Jewish program has earned a reputation for taking on the most challenging cases, including patients who may have been turned down at other implant centers.

A dedicated interventional cardiology track is slated during the 2006 Scientific Sessions of the AHA in Chicago that starts this weekend. Beginning with the Pre-Sessions Symposium and running throughout the conference, the program will feature the latest scientific advancements and clinical practices in interventional cardiology.

The meeting will cover a broad array of topics tailored to interventional cardiologists, and will include late-breaking clinical trials data, the newest translational science and renowned speakers.

A new study published in the Oct. 30 edition of “Circulation” calls the onset of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among dialysis patients “catastrophic.” Millions of people around the world who suffer from end-stage kidney disease endure numerous complicated lifestyle changes once they begin dialysis, the diagnosis of PAD not only adds to their deteriorated quality of life but, increases their overall risk of dying by 36 percent,” the study’s authors said.

The FDA has approved NitroMist (Nitroglycerin Lingual Aerosol) for acute relief of an attack or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. It is NovaDel’s (Flemington, NJ) first product approval utilizing the company’s proprietary oral spray technology.

The North American commercial rights for NitroMist have been licensed to Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc.

Data from the NitroMist clinical trials demonstrate the drug's efficacy in the treatment of angina.

Hospitals and other medical facilities across the state of Washington will receive $1 million in grant money allocated for implementing and upgrading their information technology. The Washington Health Information Collaborative, a public-private partnership based in Seattle, is awarding grants of up to $20,000 to 49 small hospitals, community clinics and physician practices to spend on electronic health records and other computerized patient management systems.

Results from the Phase II MEND-CABG study — which looked at demonstrated the clinical benefits of MC-1 in reducing cardiovascular events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery — will be presented during the 2006 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association (AHA), to be held Nov. 12-15, 2006 in Chicago.

Boston Scientific has launched new software enabling its Left Ventricular (LV) Offset feature in the CONTAK RENEWAL, RENEWAL 3, and RENEWAL 3 RF cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D). LV Offset allows physicians to further fine-tune synchronization of the heart by allowing adjustment of the delay between right and left ventricular pacing, which helps physicians provide more tailored care for heart failure patients.

November 2006 - Physicians at UT Southwestern Medical Center are part of a multinational clinical trial evaluating the Optimizer System, a unique implantable device designed to treat a larger number of patients with heart failure.

UT Southwestern is one of the top enrolling centers of the 50 sites in the U.S.

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